The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-22
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Cheap Fuel and Light.


To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal
Ten rooms large enough for fires, two smaller
ones, and a hall below and above are in my res
idence.. Five fires, three in stoves and two
crates, are going every day. at cost of So n
year. Not So for each stove and crate, but S.
for ten fires. or 80 cents year for each fire, and
light thrown in gratis This is the result of the
immense gas wells at Anderson. furnished at
cost to the consumer. During cold weather the
fires are running day and night and in the morn
ing it is as warm and comfortable at tea time
and fires to kindle in a cold room in the
morning When the doors are thrown open
from room to room the temperature is like sum-
mer; no cold fur nlture, no cold beds or bedding.
can run ten fires, if needed, at the same cost
five. but five is all have needed.
1t lightens womans labor one-half to two
thirds, and that is a blessing. No dust from
wood. coal, ashes cinders. sparks, but clean,
pure, uniform heat and no sweeping now to
where there were five sweepings before. In
cooking pies bread, biscuits, roasting beef, etc.
they are simply put in the oven and not looked
after until they done, and then they
thoroughly done; burning, underdone
cooking. no changing; nothing but putting in and
taking out at the proper time. The does
not soil or stain the bottom of the kettle. or
pot. and no washing on the bottom Is needed,
and no black dish cloths.
Put on the tea-kettle at night, and in the
morning IL is ready for tea coffee, and you
have warm at all hours. Put old
people in a room by themselves, turn the gas
and they can have it warm they please.
A jet in the cellar will keep frost away ana
fire night and day turns the kitchen into a
cellar, and dispenses with cellar altogether.
Kitchen, pantry dining room. sitting room. par
Tor, library, bathroom, halls and bedrooms
with fires night and day. makes the temper
ature like summer the live long winter
The citizens formed a company called THE
Citizens Company" each householder paying
$50 for each house. store Office, and that guar
antees free gas in perpetuity, without ever pay
ing any more at any time. This fund drilled
two immense gas wells. piped the city, and
now have free gas and fuel forever, long as
gas wells flow. With argand burners, have
an illuminant which many prefer to artificial
oil. This $50 furnishes fuel and lights for all
time. Counting interest $50 at 6 per cent,
tna cost of ten fires and ten lamps is 50, and at
10 per cent. S. year. for the present and fut-
Should | sell, the purchaser would take
free and fuel with the freehold
Major Doxey offered the Indianapolis people
chance for citizens company and they de-
clned it, Noblesville, kokomo, Marion, Nun
cie and Hartford City can have the same luxury,
but not cheap Anderson, as they are more
less hampered by franchises which prevents
them from having what the fortunate, proud
and happy Andersonians possess IN unstinted
abundance. Natural gas is the perfection of
fuel. lt is delicious luxury It makes home
attractive elysInm. Could it stay the gray
hairs and wrinkles of time. would gladly
foreeo the millennium for thousand years. We
no longer think of Florida California for
have their summer cline in houses in the
winter. d. Z. CHAPMAN.